Ehrhardt, Geneva Girls Cross Country Building Momentum for Big Finish

With top runner Kelly Whitley just returning from competing overseas and the Upstate Eight Conference meet just around the corner, the lady Vikings cross country team is hoping to keep their momentum going and finish strong following a great performance in Saturday's Larry Eddington Cross Country Invitational.

Tess Ehrhardt finished first and so did Geneva at the invite hosted by Kaneland at Elburn Woods.

So far, the Vikings have shown why they have racked up state championships in both the 2007 and 2008 seasons, and they're gaining momentum toward that goal as the season moves to a climax.

On Saturday, the ladies won the 3K varsity meet at Kaneland with a total time of 1:37.06. The girls also had a second-place finish in the women's 2K open with a total time of 1:26.53.

In the women's 3K, senior Tess Ehrhardt took individual top honors with a total time of 18:41.82.

Four other Geneva runners finished in the top 18: Rachel Hammond was fourth (19:12.77), Liza Tauscher sixth (19:21.92), Megan Brady 13th (19: 48.77) and Cory McLauchlan 18th (20:01. 47.)

MacKenzie Williams and Kristi Shogren placed in the top 50 at Saturday's meet.

Rachel Zacchea and Ashley Dudman placed in the top two in the women's 2K, but Geneva overall came in second next to Benet Academy. Zacchea came in with a total time of 16:35.52, and Dudman finished with a time of 17:00.77.

Kelly Whitley returns to the Vikings for their next meet, sporting medals from her journey overseas. Whitley took the bronze in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and fourth place in the World Championships in Budapest.

The Vikings' next meet is at 9 a.m. Saturday in Sterling Rock.